Library of Congress Is Latest Government Institution to Block Wikileaks

 

The Library of Congress has blocked access to the Wikileaks site on its staff computers and on the wireless network that visitors use.

 

A spokesman for the library could not immediately comment, but expects to have a statement shortly.

The library is a governmental institution and serves as the research arm for Congress. It was established in 1800 and, when it was burned down by the British in 1814, Thomas Jefferson donated his own personal library to replace it. (Not for free, though; Congress paid $23,950 for the books.) It has grown ever since and, according to the library, it has "more than 144 million items including more than 33 million cataloged books and other print materials in 460 languages; more than 63 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America; and the world's largest collection of legal materials, films, maps, sheet music and sound recordings."

The State and Commerce departments have also reportedly told their employees not to look at the Wikileaks cables, while the Department of Education reportedly blocked it entirely.

 

 

 

 

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